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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Hoysaleshwara temple Sculptures and Doorways

Sculptures & Doorways of Hoysaleshwara temple

Sculptures on the walls of the Hoysaleshwara temple

Entrance:

There are totally 4 doorways for the temple out of which the south door is of most importance. The entrance looks similar to that of the Belur, and is a true Hoysala style of architecture, with two model shrines on either sides of the door and the Lintel being exquisitely carved with small sculptures on them.

The south entrance of the Hoysaleshwara temple

The Dwarapalakas and the lintel work at the south entrance

The most beautiful sculpture in Hoysaleshwara temple were the two sculptures of Dwarapalakas at the south door of the temple, it has the most elaborately carved ornaments on both these sculptures.

Dwarapalaka at the North entrace

Dwarapalaka on the right of the south entrance

Dwarapalaka on the left of the south entrance

Here you can imagine those days how rich and elegant were there ornaments decorated so beautifully

Even today you wont find such a beautiful jewels of gold which were those days carved out of stone

Sculptures:

There are 240 large sculptures on the walls of the temple, out of them the most significant ones being the Shiva and Vishnu images.

The avatars of Vishnu include Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, and Krishna. And there are many Shiva sculptures found on the walls.

1.Varaha

This relief of Varaha seems to emphasize his fierceness against the conquered demon, rather than his tenderness towards the rescued goddess.

The fineness of the carving, which is deeply undercut and encrusted with ornamentation in the best Hoysala style, is characteristic of most sculptures on the temple.

Varaha

2.Narasimha

There were many images of Narasimha out of which im showing you two of them below

3.Vishnu Trivikrama

Vishnu takes a giant step to reclaim the universe, as Garuda worships to his right. Brahma (with three heads) appears beside Vishnu's right foot, indicating that in this step Vishnu has covered the heavens.

Vishnu Trivikrama

4. Garuda

There were two images of Garuda which i found here. The first one is the Garuda, who as a bird is the traditional enemy of snakes, fights a pair of nagas.

The second one was on another here also you can notice the wings on the left side of the pic.

Garuda fighting with snake

Garuda, you can notice the wings on his right

5. Shiva

Shiva dances powerfully on the body of a demon, which he tramples under foot.

Shiva

6. Shiva

A fierce manifestation of Shiva dancing on a demon. Shiva holds multiple weapons, a snake-entwined skull staff (photo left), and a drum (photo left, above Nandi). A corpse appears to the right edge of the photo. At the upper right of the photo, Shiva spears a small enemy with his trident.

Shiva with Trishul in his hand

7.Shiva & Parvati

The right image is of Shiva Parvati on Nandi

8. Gajasurasamhara
The Slayer of the elephant demon.The fierce aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as the Destroyer of the elephant demon, Gajasura.

Gajasura

Gajasura

9.Bhikshatana / Bhairava

This image is a stunning amalgamation of gentle Bhikshatana and fierce Bhairava, both forms of Shiva. The sandals belong to Bhikshatana, the other attributes to Bhairava. In the lower right, two figures seem to represent a Brahmin trying to keep his wife away from Bhikshatana. The figures may be interpreted as emaciated aescetics (Bhikshatana), as corpses (Bhairava), or - as so often in additive cultures like India's - as both. Overall, the fierce expression and imagery of Bhairava clearly dominate this sculpture, which I would characterize as Bhikshatana assimilated into Bhairava.

Bhikshatana

10. Ganesha

Dancing Ganesha

Ganesha

11. Lakshmi Narayana

Lakshmi Narayana, also seen here is the most popular madanika style of Belur on the right of the pic

12. Ravana lifting Kailasa

Ravana Lifting Kailasa mountain, Similar to that of the Belur.

So much of details can be seen here, with Shiva - Parvati sitting on Nandi on top of the mountain.

Ravana Lifting Mount Kailasa

13. Arjuna

Arjuna

14. Durga Mahishasuramardini

Durga, armed with the weapons of all the gods, slays the buffalo demon Mahisha.

Durga Mahishasuramardini

15. Kaali

Kali dances around the graveyard with trident, sword, and severed head. She is adored by attendant corpses. Kali represents Time, which brings all things to ruin.